The reduction in transportation costs promised by President Bola Tinubu is expected to begin on some routes from October 1, 2026, according to the Executive Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas(CNG), Ismaeel Ahmed.
Ahmed said the number of CNG refuelling stations in Nigeria had increased from fewer than 10 before 2023 to about 90 when the initiative was launched.
Speaking on Wednesday, he said the Pi-CNG initiative was focused on creating an enabling environment, while investors were responsible for driving the expansion.
He said Nigerians had already begun adopting CNG and electric vehicles, adding that cheaper transportation could become more noticeable from October 1.
“What we are going to be seeing, starting tomorrow, October 1, is hopefully a reduction of transport fares in certain routes,” Ahmed said.
He cited the Gwagwalada-Abuja route as an example, saying passengers travelling in CNG-powered buses could pay at least 40 per cent less than the prevailing fare.
Ahmed said more than 120,000 vehicles had already been converted to CNG, although the data was still being collated.
He also disclosed that the conversion of 100,000 vehicles under a programme announced in March was nearing completion.
According to him, CNG adoption is expanding into areas that previously had no refuelling infrastructure.
“In the last one year, there was no single CNG station. Now, there are 10 refuelling stations in Kano,” he said.
On September 19, Tinubu directed states to accelerate implementation of the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme, aimed at reducing transportation costs from October 1.
The President also announced the establishment of an implementation committee under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, chaired by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
In August, President Tinubu called for the establishment of an additional 500 CNG refuelling stations across the country as part of efforts to reduce transportation costs following the removal of the petrol subsidy.
The President said state governors had agreed to take measures to reduce transport fares by leveraging cheaper energy sources, including CNG and electric vehicles.
The additional stations are expected to bring the Federal Government’s planned CNG refuelling network to 1,000 stations nationwide.